SMART goals are used by managers to help their
employees set realistic, attainable goals. The author of
the blog, Embark on the Journey, translated this business
language to make it useful to families. She also created
worksheets that you can easily download and work on
with your children.
The acronym SMART represents goals that are:
• Specific: The more specific we are, the more focused
we can be in reaching a goal. When your children say
they want to do better in school, ask questions to guide
them in identifying a more detailed goal. For example,
which subject would they like to do better in? What
grade are they hoping to achieve?
• Measurable: It is important that we help our children
identify how they will know they reached their goal so it
is clear what they are working towards. Is it an award, a
grade, a project, or a skill they are looking to end up
with in the end?
• Achievable: Goals should be reasonably
challenging–not impossible. It is best to encourage our
children to take one step at a time and not to make
things too difficult for themselves. They will be happier if
they reach a few easier goals than if they struggle to
attain a really difficult one.
• Relevant: Goals need to mean something to the
children. They need to be excited and passionate about
what they are working towards. If we set the goals for
them, they will not gain anything from the experience
and may possibly fail and be stressed over what we
expect from them.
• Timely: If we don’t identify when we hope to achieve
a goal, we are unable to succeed. Ask your children to
determine a realistic time frame for meeting the goal.
Be sure to consider other obligations and interests when
choosing the estimated finish line.
Provide New Experiences
As parents, we can guide our children through this
discovery process to figure out their purpose in life. We
can’t tell them what their purpose should be, but we can
give them experiences and resources to help them
discover their own sense of purpose and ultimately their
true happiness. Some ways we can enhance their view of
the world around them include:
• Taking them on trips–both domestic and abroad.
• Participating in volunteer activities.
• Being part of a sports team.
• Exposing them to different cultures through food,
shows, music, etc.
• Exploring art and science through shows, museums,
and classes.
• Giving them opportunities to explore life on their own
through camp, group trips, study abroad programs, and
spending time with friends and family in other locations.
Stay Flexible
It is also important that our children learn how to stay
flexible when setting and working towards their dreams.
Goals are not meant to be written in stone. We should
approach goals as fluid opportunities for personal
growth. As they learn new techniques or fail at their first
attempt, they can tweak their goals to better fit their
needs over time. The key to success is to allow them to
take a break, find a new perspective, and then come
back and try again with a revised plan. Our children will
thank us for teaching them this little trick in life so that
they can learn to adapt more easily and persevere even
when faced with unexpected surprises and challenges.
The world is
their oyster–let’s
allow them to
find their true
purpose so they
can lead happy,
fulfilling lives.